The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-08
THE CAPITAL CITY.

HE CARI1AL 0111
Identification of Indianapolis with the state
at Large-Principsl Features of Its Life.
No State capital in the country is more closely
identified with the people of it's commonwealth
than Indianapolis. One leave the city in
the morning and go to any railroad town in the
State. with but few exceptions, transact bust
ness, and return at night The average time
for a trip to any county seat is about six hours.
hence the SOC, 900 people in Indiana are almost
closely connected with their capital as the in
habitants of the city itself. But
there is a daily retail business here that
is supported in part by fully 300. 900 people out
side Of Marion county. Less than an hours ride
brings the Inhabitants Of Boone. Hamilton,
Madison, Hancock, Shelby, johnson, Morgan
and Hendricks counties to the city on shopping
visits. Added to this the 900 population of
Marion county, gives Indianapolis an aggregate
of nearly $50, 600 persons who contribute TO the
mercantile interests of the capital. This large
population is not far out of the way in its esti
mate. If an error occurs it Is likely to place
the approximation at too small q figure. In
1880, the counties named. except Marion. had
population of 232, 04s Indianapolis alone at
that time. with her 75o56 people, could increase
this aggregate to 307,104. The city, from 1870
to 1880, advanced from As, pa people to 1906,
gain of q, 712. During the seven years from the
last date there have been no influences to
check this progress. and if Indianapolis
of population than to hold her
percentage of increase from 1870 TO 1880, the
2,771, at least 90. 453. But still calculating
this safe basis of estimate. Center township en-
tire ought to be considered. The city Is so
nearly coextensive with the limits of that civil
hat Ind lie not IN in
il municipality, does in social and business re-
lations. Beyond the city limits and in the town
ship in 1870 there were 5,592 people. Bringing
them into a consideration of Indianapolis
population. where they rightly belong, the clty's
immediate inhabitants seven years ago num-
bered 80 648 an increase over 1870 of %, 130 1t
can he safely stated that the outside township
population is now nearly 10. 900. which added to
the 3d. 453 in the city proper will give los 453 in
Eabtants to Indianapolis, on an estimate that
a no larger average of yearly increase has been
made than during the decade from 1870 to 1880.
But Notwithstanding the period of depression,
the city's population has advanced with greater
percentage than heretofore Applying the basis
of estimate the directory publishers, Ell. l.. Polk
81 Co. assume, 900 more people can be added
to the los, 453. They calculate that the names
in their Indianapolis directory represent about
40 per cent of the actual population of the city.
which will advance to the total in the so, 900
names in the directory of 1887 to 125, 900
people Using the voting, strength OF
reaches very closely the figures presented by the
directory estimate. 1t is the rule that voter
represents about five of the population of city.
This is the average. littls more than Is. 900
votes were cast at the municipal election in 1885.
This Dy no means represented the voting
strength Of the city, which at that time was
about 1000 Assuming the last figure, the
population of the city proper was then no.
900. But there is further evidence to
support the present estimate of 125, 900 people.
In school enumeration it is assumed that each
person between six and twenty-one years repre-
sents from two and half to three of the entire
population. In MAY, '84. :here returned
enumeration of the school age of 30, 1O2 in
'S5, 40 1885, in sc, Al 323 in '87, A, 1856 Taking
the ratio of one person between the ages named
to two and three-fourths of the rest of the in
habitants, Indianapolis has a population now of
122, 054, about 100, 600 for Center township.
Indianapolis is a city of churches. There are
sixteen Baptist churches seven Catholic nine
Christian (Discipes), two Congregational, seven
Protestant Episcopal. two vangelical Associa-
tion, Friends (Quakerl, ak German Re-
formed, two Hebrew, one of which is the Mar
ket-street Temple the other the Cherro Schra
Thfelo at No. 1852 South Meridian street, fou-
Lutheran, one of which is Danish, two German
and one English, the last being the beautiful edi
fee just completed at the corner of Walnut and
Pennsylvania streets; twenty-six Methodist
Episcopal, if the church in the suburbs, one at
Irvington and one at Mapleton, be included; one
Methodist Protestant; fourteen Presby terian,
including missions at North Indianapolis, Bel
United Brethren: one United Presbyterian;
Unversalist. making total of 101, besides
which services are held III half dozen
or more rooms temporarily used mis-
sions. A number Of churches have been
greatly repaired and improved since the
beginning of the year. Among these is the
Eleventh Presbyterian Church, which is now in
teriorly and exteriorly slightly church. with en-
larged accommodations. The Methodist church
in Hallplace, and the Methodist church on
Blackford street two new and handsome
church edifices. Indianapolis is credited with
having a larger percentage of church-going pop
ulation than any city in the country.
So thoroughly is the public school system of
Indianapolis organized a pupil without the high
school course acquires within eight years ed
ucation of very serviceable character. He is
grounded in all that is requisite for business
ana even a professional career. The training by
superior teachers is such as to fit any one for
Immediate entrance to the freshman class of
many colleges. A full course in the
the student could acquire fif he pursued
collegiate studies to the end of obtaining de-
gree. Much that is practical is also taught, and
the resources of study which one cansutiliZe are
enriched by libraries, laboratories and appara-
tus. A young man holding certificate of
graduation from the Indianapolis High-school is
adm United with but little. IL any, examination 20
the freshman year of Harvard and Yale. II
these institutions are, on account of expense,
beyond the reach of the student the colleges in
the State that they really have a
home connection. There are several of these
advanced institutions which have high rank
among the colleges of the country; and more,
there special schools in the city where bust
ness and professional requirements can be oh
tanned. There is in the public schools of Indian
apolis an average daily attendance of 10, 934
pupils, large percentage of whom pursue the
full twelve-years course. from the primary
through the year of high school graduation. All
this work of training is conducted by superin-
tendent of graded schools, one for the high
schools, thirty principals and 300 teachers
Aside from this army of children, large rum-
Der attend private Schools where not only
English studies comp eted, but the classical
in the preparation of students for
the highest universities ard colleges in the coun-
try is given. 1t is the best evidence OF an In
dIanapois education to note the success achieved
by men and women indebted TO it for their
tai culture. Many have become leading lawyers
teachers, doctors and clergymen while others
have taken noticeable rank in literature
In sustaining the public and high-schools
tax not exceeding twenty. five cents each one